It's officially spring in Atlanta, which means Tech's campus is covered in pollen. We spent the day detailing our mini Wreck to get it cleaned up for the season.
A Dream Garage Comes True
Story by Jennifer Herseim
Photos by Scott Dinerman, STC 03
With the new Reck Garage-officially unveiled this spring next to the John Lewis Student Center—Georgia Tech's iconic mascot will always have a prime parking spot in the heart of campus.
The garage includes a fully functioning repair station with a lift, workbenches, plenty of storage for tools, an outdoor car wash station, and dual entrances, making the space as functional as it is stylish. The crowning design piece though is a spinning turntable that allows for 360-degree views of the vintage car. When it's not rambling through campus sounding its distinctive horn, the Ramblin' Wreck can now be enjoyed almost 24/7 by its most loyal fans—students.
"In the Reck Club, we always say that the Wreck belongs to the student body; it's a representation of students," says Omar Khan, the new 2023 driver. "But there's always been some distance because we had to keep its location secret. This is a special moment to see it find a permanent home right here in the middle of campus."
Though the idea for a garage has surfaced several times over the years, in 2017, then-driver Chris Healy and Ramblin' Reck Club President Zachary Freels pitched the idea to campus officials during talks over the Student Center renovation. In 2020, the Reck Club began fundraising for a stand-alone garage. The project picked up speed with a generous gift from Anne Wallis whose late husband, W. Barry Wallis, ME 68, was an antique car enthusiast and a loyal Yellow Jacket. With the Wallis family's gift, construction was completed in the winter of 2022, and the Ramblin' Wreck will officially roll into its new home during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 7, 2023.
"Now that it's in this public space that's so easily accessible and viewable," Khan says, "we can truly promote the idea that the Wreck is owned by the student body."
Shifting into High Gear
Floor-to-ceiling windows, a pavilion-like roof, and terraced outdoor seating showcase the Wreck and serve as an inviting gathering space. Its location and accessibility open the door to new traditions. “A lot of our traditions surrounding the Reck Club are going to change,” says Evalyn Edwards. As the 2022 driver, Edwards drove the Ramblin’ Wreck onto historic Grant Field before every home game last fall, a tradition that’s happened every year since 1961. After the game, Edwards would return the car to its secret location. “It’s honestly a little disheartening to go from this celebratory feeling to this quiet, hidden space by yourself,” she says. “Now, tailgating at the new garage or meeting the driver here before the game could even become new traditions.”
Traditions on Display
The garage allows students and campus visitors a chance to see the Wreck up close and learn about Georgia Tech’s rich traditions. “When we give prospective students admissions presentations in the Student Center theater across the way, they’ll be able to look out the window onto this garage,” says Gerome Stephens, associate dean of students and Reck Club advisor. Plaques outside the garage tell the story of the Ramblin’ Wreck and the Reck Club (which is spelled without the “W”). The garage includes display shelves where the Reck Club can showcase important club memorabilia, like this original Wreck shield (pictured above), which was retired several years ago due to a crack in the wood.
From (Net) Zero to Sixty
The building is being evaluated for LEED Platinum certification, the highest certification available for a net-zero energy building. The windows are coated with a thermally efficient low--e coating that reduces heat loss in the winter and keeps the garage cool throughout the summer months. Thirty 400-watt solar panels installed on the roof allow the garage to generate its own energy.
Dual Entrances
Two hydraulic-powered, bi-fold doors on either side of the garage allow the Wreck to easily enter and exit from either side. When open, the doors also create a large indoor-outdoor space for hosting events.
Design "Wreck-quisites"
The floor tiles across the garage are made by the company Argelith, which makes the same tiles for Porsche’s showrooms. The Wreck itself also served as inspiration throughout the space. The color of the workbenches match the Wreck's color, and the garage's ceiling panels, which have an acoustic backing to reduce noise, were designed to resemble the vehicle's grille.
Keeping Freshman Fingers Far Away
With the new highly visible location, security was a top concern. In partnership with the Georgia Tech Police Department, the design team installed enhanced security features, including reinforced, shatter-resistant glass, cameras, alarms, and swipe card access to the building. Altogether, the garage ensures the vehicle remains safe and out of reach of first-year students, who as legend has it, are not allowed to touch the car or else Tech will be guaranteed to lose to UGA that year.
A Home for Big Buzz, Too
The Garage includes several closets where the Reck Club can store additional club materials, including "Big Buzz," a giant inflatable Buzz. As his name implies, Big Buzz takes up a lot of space whether inflated to full size on Tech Green or stowed away. A "Big Buzz" -sized closet was specially designed to store the large inflatable when it's not in use.
Lead designers Blake Burton, M Arch 09, and Emily Mastropiero of Square Feet Studio
Designs Driven by Security, Functionality & The Wreck Itself
The garage was designed by Atlanta-based Square Feet Studio. The firm worked closely with the Reck Club to incorporate security, safety, and functionality into the building. The garage is equipped with emergency gas and exhaust sensors and an underground vehicle exhaust system. The streamlined design was also important so that the garage wouldn't detract from the Wreck, says lead architect and alumnus Blake Burton, M Arch 09. "The idea was to create a building that sits lightly on the landscape because we wanted to make sure that the Wreck would be front and center," Burton says.